Gifted individuals are known for having brains with high processing speed and remarkable cognitive capacity. This high performance demands greater energy consumption, which places glucose, the brain’s main fuel, at the center of this equation. With an accelerated metabolism, these individuals can consume glucose at a higher rate than average. However, this characteristic raises an intriguing question: does this high glucose consumption increase the risk of diabetes due to metabolic wear and tear, or are there factors that protect gifted individuals against this condition?
The Role of Glucose Consumption
In fact, the high brain activity of gifted individuals requires a greater supply of glucose. Studies show that insulin plays a vital role in this process, helping the brain to capture glucose to sustain its functions. However, prolonged and intense energy consumption can overload the insulin regulatory system. This, in the long term, can lead to brain insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, as seen in other metabolic stress conditions.
On the other hand, the lifestyle of many gifted individuals often includes healthier habits, such as a balanced diet, exercise, and increased health awareness. These factors can offset high energy intake and help protect against the risk of diabetes.
Genes That Connect Cognition and Insulin
Genes related to insulin and insulin-like growth factors also play an important role in cognition, which may be a key factor in understanding the relationship between giftedness and diabetes. Some of the most relevant genes include:
- IGF2R (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Receptor) :
- Associated with elevated cognition and cerebral metabolic efficiency (Chorney et al., 1998) .
- IGF2 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2) :
- Linked to memory and selective attention, indicating that it may regulate both brain metabolism and cognitive function (Alfimova et al., 2012) .
- IDE (Insulin Degrading Enzyme) :
- Responsible for regulating insulin and amyloids in the brain, being a potential protector against neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive dysfunctions (Mueller et al., 2007) .
- IRS1 and IRS2 (Insulin Receptor Substrates) :
- Crucial in insulin signaling, they connect metabolic efficiency and cognition. Dysfunctions in these genes may contribute to brain insulin resistance and cognitive deficits (Tanokashira et al., 2019) .
The Verdict: Higher or Lower Diabetes Risk?
The answer is not simple and depends on multiple factors:
- Accelerated metabolism and high energy demand can increase the risk of metabolic wear and insulin resistance in gifted individuals, especially if associated with unbalanced eating habits.
- Protective genetic factors , such as more efficient variants of genes related to insulin and IGF, can neutralize or reduce metabolic risks.
- A healthy lifestyle , often present among the gifted, may be a key factor in preventing metabolic conditions such as diabetes.
Therefore, although gifted individuals may have characteristics that theoretically increase the risk of diabetes, the balance between genetics, lifestyle habits and metabolic demand may mean that many of them are not more prone to the condition. Longitudinal studies that integrate genetics, metabolism and cognition are essential to definitively clarify this relationship.
Dr. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues MRSB holds a post-PhD in Neuroscience and is an elected member of Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Honor Society (more than 200 members of Sigma Xi have received the Nobel Prize), as well as being a member of the Society for Neuroscience in the United States, the Royal Society of Biology and The Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom, the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna, Austria, and the APA – American Philosophical Association in the United States. He holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Biology. He is also a Technologist in Anthropology and Philosophy, with several national and international degrees in Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. Dr. Fabiano is a member of prestigious high IQ societies, including Mensa International, Intertel, ISPE High IQ Society, Triple Nine Society, ISI-Society, and HELLIQ Society High IQ. He is the author of more than 300 scientific studies and 30 books. He is currently a visiting professor at PUCRS in Brazil, UNIFRANZ in Bolivia and Santander in Mexico. He also serves as Director of CPAH – Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito and is the creator of the GIP project, which estimates IQ through the analysis of genetic intelligence. Dr. Fabiano is also a registered journalist, having his name included in the book of records for achieving four records, one of which is for being the greatest creator of characters in the history of the press.